Of course these are as nothing compared with the recent monster in Nepal and other quake-vulnerable spots around the world.

The epicentres of “our” disturbances tend to be in the Channel or Kent. But in past times there have been ones centred here in London.

21 May 1382.
A strong tremor rocked London at about 2 in the afternoon during a church Synod at Blackheath which had been convened to pass judgement of 24 Articles of John Wycliffe’s teachings. It naturally became known as the Earthquake Synod. It was presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Courtnay. A learned man, Courtnay – following Aristotle – explained to the terrified delegates that it was simply the Earth naturally expelling noxious fumes. Wycliffe’s followers, the Lollards, on the contrary interpreted the quake as God’s anger at the Synod. This earthquake caused sufficient turbulence in the Thames to capsize boats and quite severely damage St Paul’s.

1750.
Better known than the medieval quake were two which struck a month apart in 1750. We are, after all, now in the age of the printed word, and in abundance: Gentleman’s Magazine had much to say, for example. At about midday on 8 February. It was very localised in the City. There were reports of a chimney collapsing and the usual chattering crockery, but with no injuries reported it was clearly a minor, albeit alarming affair.
Exactly a month later on 8 March, a more powerful tremor struck the city in the small hours. There was much actual damage to buildings, crockery, furniture. Dogs howled and folks sprinted into the streets in various states of undress. The bishop of London insisted that divine retribution was at hand on account of London’s wicked ways.
Exactly another month later, many superstitious and gullible Londoners, headed out of town. Just to be sure.

Another earthquake which affected London. Here’s an extract from my book Prinny’s Taylor (now available from Amazon in kindle format) which describes the opening of the crypt of Marylebone church in 1982:

“When the workmen broke through the bricked-up entrance, a grisly and chaotic sight met their eyes. Coffins and remains were strewn and piled all over the place in complete disorder. Some reasons for this disturbance are thought to be firstly the Dogger Bank Earthquake, which occurred early in the morning of 7 June, 1931, and which was the strongest tremor recorded in the United Kingdom since records began, measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale. Its effects were felt all over the British Isles and in parts of Europe. The shock caused some damage in the basement of Madame Tussaud’s, just across Marylebone Road. In the Chamber of Horrors, poor Doctor Crippen’s head split in half, with one half falling to the floor where it was smashed. Primo Carnera, the boxer, lost his head and several other figures were slightly damaged. “